A delegation of Bulgarian dignitaries and business leaders met with local business executives at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, May 15, to discuss incentives for American companies doing business in Bulgaria. Among the featured speakers were U.S. Ambassador James Warlick, and the Bulgarian Consul General Marin Dimitrov.
The Los Angeles seminar has a specific focus on incentives provided by the European Union (EU) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for energy development and efficiency.
The event opened with keynote addresses by Ambassador Warlick and Consul General Dimitrov, followed by a discussion of Bulgaria’s business-friendly environment by AmCham President Peter Lithgow and overview of the investment climate by David Butts, a partner located in the Sofia office of the international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna LLC. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria.
Daniel Berg, EBRD Director in Bulgaria, discussed financing opportunities offered by EBRD, and Barbara Lapini, Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Commercial Service provided information about EU-funded projects in Bulgaria.
Alan Levy, Chairman of Los Angeles-based Tishman International Companies and Honorary Consul for the Republic of Bulgaria in Southern California, led case study presentations with an overview of his company’s experience in developing and operating Sofia Airport Center (SAC), Bulgaria’s first LEED-certified commercial project.
SAC features a low-energy VAV air cooling system controlled by an automated building management system, which regulates the internal environment and energy consumption; lots of natural lighting; and operable, double-glazed windows. The 165,000-square-meter business complex includes 100 square meters of Class A office space, a 28,000-square-meter Logistics Center with warehouse space, and a planned, 175-room hotel with conference facilities.
The event was followed by a luncheon, hosted by Tishman International Companies, at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. The Business Roadshow also made stops in Austin, Tex., Seattle, WA, and San Jose, CA.
